Dare to Resist

Book 1: Dare Nation Series

by Carly Phillips

Genres: Sports Romance; Romance; Contemporary Romance; workplace romance; Surprise Baby; Sports Athletes

Synopsis

He’s sexy. Alphalicious. And suddenly a dad.

Austin Prescott is a lot of things. Ex football player. Sports agent. And as of this morning? Father. Finding a baby on his doorstep should have been a joke, but the pink sticky note and baby carrier she came in is deadly serious.

What’s an out-of-his-depth bachelor to do? Call his tempting and beyond gorgeous executive assistant and beg her to move in.

Quinnlyn Stone agrees to help Austin until he can straighten out his messy life. It’s just another item on her very long To-Do list. It’s absolutely not because she’s attracted to her very single and extremely handsome boss.

Close quarters. A baby. Undeniable chemistry. What could possibly go wrong?

Release date: May 12, 2020

Publisher: CP Publishing

Print pages: 268

Sample

Prologue

Austin Prescott sat in the offices of Dare Nation, the newly minted sports agency he’d opened with Paul Dare, a man he’d grown up considering like a father to him. Instead he and his siblings had recently discovered that Uncle Paul was their biological dad courtesy of sperm donation. Life was crazy. But then in the Dare world, it probably fell under the definition of normal. Family came in all shapes and sizes.

And in Austin’s family, he was to be the kidney donor for Paul in two weeks, which meant his need to find an assistant was urgent. He tapped his foot impatiently, in no mood to deal with yet another interview. He’d spoken to enough women in the last week to make his head spin, and he still hadn’t found the right fit.

He needed someone who could keep up with negotiations and someone who could sit at the fanciest restaurants with players and their wives who thought their shit didn’t stink, all while being smarter than anyone else in the room. Except for him, of course. And someone who could handle the office while he was out on medical leave.

So far he’d interviewed Ivy League graduates with attitude and average students with MBAs who just wanted an in to meet and fuck a sports star. And Austin had plenty of experience with the latter. Hell, since his Division One NCAA days followed by his NFL career, he could bed any female he wanted, but he had to admit, easy lays were getting old. He wasn’t ready to settle down, but his days of picking up women every weekend were becoming fewer and farther between. Not that he was a monk, far from it. A man had needs.

He lifted his phone to let Bri, his publicist sister who’d been helping him out until he could find an assistant, know that he wanted to cancel whoever was left for the day and start over tomorrow when a knock sounded on his office door.

“Come in!” he called out, wondering why his sibling felt the need to knock.

“Mr. Prescott?” an unfamiliar feminine voice that went straight to his cock asked as she stepped inside and blew his mind. “The woman at the desk outside said I should just knock.”

A gorgeous vision in a slim black skirt and a white blouse that should have looked like a uniform but instead had him wanting to bend her over his desk stepped into the room.

His gaze slid down to black pumps with enough of a heel to elongate those sexy tanned legs. Legs he wouldn’t mind having wrapped around his waist as he fucked her senseless. Because from the tips of her toes to the top of her shoulder-length raven-colored hair, she epitomized class and perfection personified. The red lipstick merely added to her appeal.

“Mr. Prescott?” she asked, causing him to realize he’d been staring.

“Yes. I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting another applicant this afternoon. Ms.…”

“Quinnlyn Stone but everyone calls me Quinn.”

He rose to his feet, hoping she didn’t notice the tent in his pants. “Nice to meet you, Quinn.” He extended his hand as she stepped forward. No sooner had she slid her cool palm against his than a jolt of unexpected electricity sparked between them.

Shit. This was bad. Very, very bad. He could not desire a woman who might work for him.

“Have a seat,” he said in a gruff voice, gesturing to the dual chairs across from his desk.

“Thank you.” She walked over and lowered herself into one, sliding her legs to one side.

Like he thought, classy, unlike the many women who’d deliberately crossed and uncrossed their legs in an effort to draw his attention to their … assets.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a sheet of paper. “My resume, in case you didn’t have a copy in front of you,” she said.

“I appreciate you being prepared.” And since he hadn’t been paying attention to who his next candidate was and had hoped to cancel, he really did need the information. He accepted the resume and read through the page. “University of Miami undergrad and business school,” he said, impressed with her education. “So where are you from?” He met her emerald gaze, held captive by the depths of those green eyes.

“Florida born and raised. I couldn’t go far from home. My family needed me,” she said somewhat cryptically.

“I see.” It wasn’t his business to ask why, though he was intrigued.

“I went on partial scholarship. As you can see, I graduated cum laude.”

He’d noticed her honors degree. “And before this, you had a position with the Panthers,” he said of the minor league team where she’d been an assistant to an assistant.

She rolled her shoulders. “It’s called the ladder to success for a reason. I had to start somewhere. I have my letters of recommendation here, too.” She leaned down to reach inside her purse again.

“No need. I’ll look them over eventually. So you like sports?”

She nodded. “I come from a big family on both sides. A lot of siblings, cousins, uncles, everyone’s a sports fan. I learned early.”

He rolled a pen between his palms. “I hear you. My family was and is big on sports as well.”

“You think? Two NFL players, an MLB star, a sports publicist sister … it’s impressive.”

The first candidate who’d truly done her research. He was impressed right back. “So why do you want this job, Quinn? Better yet, what qualifies you over the other equally competent applicants I’ve seen today?” He hoped she’d stutter over her words or in some way give him a reason not to hire her so he could ask her out instead.

A wry smile pulled at those sexy lips. “Well, let’s see. I’m organized, efficient, and I can corral a band of preschoolers, which means I’m certain I can handle arrogant athletes.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Stereotype much?”

A pretty flush rose to her cheeks, but she didn’t duck her head or look away. “If the shoe fits…”

He liked this sassy woman. “So you’re saying because I played football…”

“And were a Heisman Trophy winner, Rookie of the Year, and three-time Super Bowl winner that you’re arrogant? Yes. Or else you wouldn’t be the man sitting behind that desk today.” She folded her hands in her lap and waited for his reply.

Not only had she done her homework, she looked him in the eye and was unafraid to stand up to him. “You’re hired.”

She blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”

He rose to his full height. “I said, you’re hired. When can you start? Because I’m having major surgery in two weeks and I need someone to hold down the fort while I’m gone. Keep the clients calm and all that.”

Those red lips he had plenty of uses for, in his imagination anyway, opened and closed twice before she composed herself and stood. “I can start whenever you need me. And thank you, Mr. Prescott.”

“We’re going to be working closely together, so call me Austin.”

“Thank you, Austin.”

He inclined his head. “We’ll see if you’re still thanking me once you’ve dealt with many of the juveniles I call clients. Your assessment of arrogant wasn’t far off the mark.”

She laughed, the sound one that would be a bright light in this office. Jesus, he was in trouble.

He strode around the desk and came up beside her. “You can talk to Bri outside. She’ll take you down to our office manager, who will have you fill out paperwork and get you settled. Can you start the day after tomorrow? That’ll give us time to get you up to speed before I’m out for at least five weeks. Maybe six.” It sucked but his body needed to adapt to having one kidney. The doctors had warned him about exhaustion most of all.

He glanced at her and she was still in shock. Since the salary and benefits had been laid out in the job description, he didn’t need to go over those details.

Finally she nodded, her eyes wide, her expression brimming with excitement. “I’m looking forward to it. Thanks again.” She spun and headed out the door, leaving him behind in a floral haze of lust and need for a woman he wouldn’t be able to touch.

As long as she worked for him, his motto would be hands off. Or hands on his cock, since he had a feeling he’d be jerking off to thoughts of Quinnlyn Stone at least once or twice before he got his inappropriate need for her out of his system.

Austin glanced at his Rolex, one of the first gifts he’d bought for himself once he signed his original NFL contract, and counted down the minutes. It didn’t take long for Bri to let herself in without knocking.

“I thought you were taking Quinn to meet with Lindsay,” he said of their office manager.

“Already handled.” His sister was the fixer of the family, mediating arguments amongst the four Prescott male siblings and occasionally their father, Jesse, when he’d been alive, like a pro. Her becoming a sports publicist was a natural choice after dealing with her family for years.

Bri plopped into the chair Quinn had been seated in earlier. “So that was a fast hire. What did you see in her that was different? Beyond the fact that she’s gorgeous and exactly your type?” Bri waggled her eyebrows. “Since I know you wouldn’t misbehave at work or hire her because you’re attracted to her.”

“Wiseass,” he muttered. “Quinn has the balls to handle the job,” he said bluntly.

“And handle you?”

He grinned. “She called me an arrogant athlete and proceeded to back up her claim. I’d say she’s perfect for the job.”

“Great! Now are you ready for surgery?” Bri leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. “We all got tested to be Uncle Paul’s donor but you drew the lucky straw.” She shook her head. “Do we still call him Uncle Paul? It’s all so weird.”

She bit down on her lower lip, a habit he remembered from childhood.

“Yeah. We had a father.” Jesse Prescott, who’d died when Austin was twenty-one, had been a decent parent to Austin, the natural-born athlete, to Damon, also a football talent, and to Bri, the only girl.

But to Jaxon, who’d preferred baseball to a contact sport, and to Bri’s twin, Braden, the brain of the bunch and now a doctor, Jesse Prescott had been a hard-ass and often mean. Which meant they were all processing the sperm donor biological father news in different ways. But there’d never been a question that if any of them were a perfect match, they’d donate a kidney to the man who had always been there for them in ways their father hadn’t.

“I can handle a little surgery,” he assured her.

“It’s not little, Austin.” Bri looked up at him with a worried expression.

“It’ll be fine. Go check on Quinn. Make sure she has all her questions answered before she leaves for the day.”

“Worried about her already?” Bri asked.

He rolled his eyes. “Go!”

Bri popped up from her seat and headed out. “I’ll be around for you if you get nervous or anything, you know?”

He glanced at the sister he loved. “Yeah, Bri. I know.”

 

*     *     *

 

Quinn sat alone in a conference room as she filled out myriad forms, shocked she could focus on anything after being alone with Austin Prescott and all that testosterone. She’d thought she’d been ready to meet him. After all, she’d done her research, Googling him before she arrived for her interview. She hadn’t lied about her family’s interest in sports, but the bulk of her current knowledge came from digging around online about Dare Nation’s clients and Austin Prescott himself.

But the online photos hadn’t prepared her for the man in person. He had chiseled features and tanned skin. Dark lashes framed unique indigo eyes. He had full lips she could imagine kissing and a strong, built body beneath his suit, making him the whole package.

“Whew.” She waved a hand in front of her still-flushed face. Her entire body heated in an inappropriate response to her boss.

She swallowed hard and filled in her social security number on the iPad with the forms the office manager had supplied, reminding herself this was her dream job. One she wouldn’t mess up because her boss was hot. She’d grown up being a pseudo-mom to her bucketload of siblings and cousins. If not for her scholarship, she’d have attended college and business school wholly on student loans because her parents couldn’t afford to send all of her siblings to school on their salaries.

She had no intention of being a nanny, despite how well qualified she might be. She loved office work and she intended to make the most of this prime opportunity. She’d pay off her student loans and have an independent life she could be proud of.

Besides, even if she’d met Austin under normal circumstances and had the same intense attraction, he wasn’t the right kind of guy for her. Austin Prescott was a player and not just on the field. In his NFL days, he’d been the consummate ladies’ man, never having a girlfriend, always seen with a different gorgeous woman on his arm. Actresses, models, perfect-looking females who fit his alpha-male image. Now that he was an agent to the stars, he was more discreet but no less discriminating in taste.

Quinn wasn’t vain. She’d been told she was pretty, but she didn’t work at it the way Austin’s typical woman did. And she had no reason to be thinking about herself and Austin linked in any way at all except professional, she thought, and continued to fill out the employment forms.

 

*     *     *

 

Austin wasn’t shocked when Quinn arrived at the office at eight a.m. on her first day. He’d said nine. She obviously wanted to make sure she had time to settle in before he put her to work. So far so good. No complaints on his end except for how much he desired her, but he knew better than to act on it and make her uncomfortable.

She obviously favored those slim skirts that showed off her ass and legs, and her silk tops wrapped perfectly around her curves. So, yeah, his head was on things other than work, but he had to get his shit together.

He’d been talking to his sister about his upcoming surgery and time off, and returning to his office, he passed Quinn’s desk and paused. “Everything okay?” he asked her.

She nodded. “I’m doing as you suggested, reading through client files and getting to know about them.”

“I have lunch with my brother Damon at twelve thirty, more business than personal. Join us. You can meet your first arrogant athlete,” he said with a grin. “Other than me.”

She shook her head and blushed. “You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Probably not.” He chuckled and headed into his office to go over a current contract that had already been vetted by the firm’s lawyer.

An hour later, they were standing at a table with his youngest brother. “Quinn, this is Damon, my youngest brother. Damon, my new executive assistant, Quinn Stone.” Austin made the introductions.

When Damon first looked at Quinn, his eyes opened wide with approval before he quickly schooled his features. Their mother would kick both their asses if they treated any woman with less than complete respect.

“It’s nice to meet you, Quinn. How are you managing working for this guy?” Damon jerked his thumb toward Austin.

“I just started but I’m enjoying myself so far.”

Austin held out a chair and she settled into it.

“So Austin tells me you play football,” she said. “And from what I’ve read, you’re a quarterback for the Miami Thunder?”

“Best there is. But I’m in the last year of a three-year contract and I need it to go well. And I also need my agent to kick some managerial ass when the time comes and get me the contract I deserve.” Damon followed his words with an arrogant smirk.

At the thought, Austin met Quinn’s gaze and grinned. “Does he fit the mold?”

“To a T,” she said, laughing.

He liked the sound.

“Why do I feel like I’m the only one not in on the joke?” Damon asked, looking from Quinn back to Austin.

“Quinn thinks she’s got us athletes pegged, and you just proved her right.”

“Can I get you something to drink?” a waitress asked, leaning in very close to Austin. So close her breast brushed against his sport jacket.

It was typical when they were out. Women picked one or the other brother to flirt with. Austin had seen her assessing them from behind a support beam, making her choice. Given the nine-year age difference between them, Austin at thirty-four, Damon at twenty-five, the woman had to have a type in order to choose. That and she looked a little older than the typical groupies who picked Damon.

Quinn’s eyebrows lifted high. She wasn’t used to how blatant the come-ons could be. If she was going to do her job, she’d get accustomed to seeing it.

“Excuse me but I’d like to order, too?” Quinn deliberately called the woman’s attention away from Austin, and he had to wonder if she was doing him a favor or if there was a touch of jealousy involved.

The waitress straightened and barely glanced at Quinn, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

“Quinn, what do you want to drink?” Austin asked.

“A club soda with a splash of cranberry juice. Thanks.” She treated him to a genuine smile.

“And you, gentlemen? What would you like?” the waitress asked in a syrupy sweet voice.

They both ordered Pellegrino. Austin was keeping his body clean for the organ donation and Damon was in training.

They made small talk for a little while, Quinn holding her own on discussions of the game, plays, and positions.

After they ordered their meals, Quinn placed her napkin on the table. “If you’ll both excuse me, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She rose and headed for the ladies’ room, and as he expected, Damon watched her go.

He waited until she was far enough away before letting out a low whistle. “Damn, bro. You should have fucked her, not hired her.”

Austin narrowed his gaze. “Watch how you talk about her, asshole.”

“Whoa.” Damon raised his hands in a gesture of peace. “Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it. Since when are you so damn sensitive about any woman?”

Austin forced himself to relax. Damon was right. Unless someone insulted the females in his family, he was usually calmer than this. Something about Quinn fired up his protective instincts, not that she needed him to look out for her. She could clearly hold her own. But he didn’t like the sound of his brother demeaning her in any way.

“So she’s different.” Placing his hands behind his head and stretching, Damon met his gaze.

“Yeah. But she’s off-limits.” Austin pinned his brother with a steady stare, making sure the kid knew he meant back off.

“Message received.” Damon looked past Austin and gave a short incline of his head, letting him know Quinn had returned.

She rejoined them at the table and they had an enjoyable lunch. One where he was damned glad the tablecloth blocked the view of his dick, because everything about her did it for him. Her laugh, her stories, her expressive words, and the full pink mouth. He didn’t care what color lipstick she wore, he wanted to taste her. To feel her lips around his cock.

This hiring was going to be the test of a lifetime.

 

*     *     *

 

Quinn had been on the job for three weeks, and Austin had been out for the last seven days following surgery. She drove up to the house where he lived. It was more like a mansion, located in an exclusive neighborhood in South Beach. She asked herself what she was doing here and the answer was simple. She wanted to reassure him she had things under control.

In the time she’d spent by Austin’s side, becoming familiar with clients and learning the office, she’d discovered she liked the man she worked for. He was demanding, which she could handle, didn’t put up with shit from his young clients who thought they were God’s gift to whatever sport they excelled in, and was a whiz at negotiating and putting someone in their place. She admired him and could learn a lot from watching him.

That was the professional Quinn.

Quinn the woman still had a huge crush on her employer and admired the fact that he was donating an organ to a family member. But she would never act on her feelings, and the job, as she’d hoped, was perfect for her.

Austin treated her with the utmost respect, and never in the time they’d been together had he crossed any boundaries or treated her like a woman he desired. She had, however, caught him looking at her with a slow simmer in his eyes more than once and convinced herself she was imagining things. It was for the best that they remain professional.

Needing something to hold when she walked in to face him, she’d stopped on the way and found the perfect item along with a package of Tim Tams her friend had brought home from Australia.

She headed up the long driveway filled with cars and across the walkway. The door was partially open, so she pushed the doorbell and walked inside.

Bri greeted her immediately with a warm hug. “It’s so nice of you to stop by.” She glanced at the bag in Quinn’s hand. “Aww, you didn’t have to bring the patient a gift,” she said with a grin. “Come meet everyone.”

Quinn followed Bri through a marble entryway into a hallway filled with people. The men all had a distinct family resemblance, not to mention the same requisite amount of testosterone. Wow, those Prescotts were hot, she mused as Bri pulled her past the guys who’d, for whatever reason, ended up in the hallway and into a big family room, where Damon sat in an oversized reclining chair drinking from a can of soda and watching television while Austin lay on the sofa.

“Your highness, you have a visitor,” Bri said, causing Quinn to chuckle. Bri turned her gaze to Damon. “You. Out. Let them catch up so Austin stops asking what’s going on at the office. I’ll go feed the rest of the crew,” she said.

Damon smirked at Austin, then headed out. Bri’s voice rose as she shepherded the family into the kitchen and the din of voices grew lower.

Austin gestured for her to come farther into the room. He looked good in a pair of gray sweats and a navy tee shirt as he leaned back against a suede oversized sofa that was located in front of the massive large screen. The beard on his face suited him, and those gorgeous indigo eyes stared at her, a slow grin forming on his sensual mouth.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked.

“I wanted to see for myself how you’re doing. And here. I brought you something.”

She handed him the bag, watching and suddenly embarrassed as he pulled out a stuffed horse, the Thunder mascot, wearing a jersey. “I love it,” he said on a low, sexy laugh.

“I didn’t want to come empty-handed.”

“What’s this?” He held the Tim Tams in his hand.

“You’ve never had Tim Tams? They’re only the best Australian cookie ever. Chocolate biscuits surrounded by a chocolate cream filling.” She moaned at the thought of the cookie she’d had this morning, remembering the taste that had exploded on her tongue.

His eyes dilated at her unintentional sexual sound. Shit. She cleared her throat. “You should try one.”

An amused smile lifted his lips. “I will. And thank you, Quinn,” he said in his rumbling voice. “Have a seat. I can’t stand or I’d be a gentleman and do the right thing my parents taught me.”

Grinning, she sat with a good amount of space between them.

“I’ve never seen you in jeans,” he said.

She blinked in surprise. “No, I guess you haven’t. But I wasn’t going to come here dressed for the office.”

His gaze drank her in. “Well, I like the casual look on you.”

“I … thank you.”

He blinked and shook his head. “Sorry. That was inappropriate. So how have things been at the office? I’ve tried to check in, but my family has been alternating as babysitters, making sure I don’t do much as per doctor’s orders. Another five weeks of doing nothing and I may lose my mind.”

She smiled, knowing how much he thrived on work. “Everything is fine. Quiet. You can relax and heal.”

“Can we go over some of the new endorsements that have come in? I know Bri’s helping you as is Rex King.” He referred to the main agent who was directing her in Austin’s absence. “But I hate being out of the loop. So show me those papers I know you slipped into your bag.”

He winked at her and damned if her panties didn’t grow damp. Damn, the man was potent.

She shot him a mock glare and pulled out a bunch of offers from her purse. Drawing a deep breath, she slid closer until her thigh touched his and his body heat radiated through the soft denim. She swallowed hard, doing her best to ignore his warm masculine scent that smelled so good.

He perused the documents, going over each by athlete, giving her his opinion, and placing the finished ones on his other side. She took notes, offering her own two cents deal by deal, but she saw him fading fast. Bri had told her he’d been warned about the exhaustion part of the recovery, hence his inability to return to work for a total of six full weeks and no heavy lifting at all.

She pulled the papers out of his hand. “You need to rest.”

He frowned. “Dammit. The doctors said the fatigue could last a good three months while my body gets used to filtering through one kidney.”

“Well, behave yourself. Do what the doctors say and you’ll be back in no time.” She glanced across his lap and reached for the papers he’d put aside.

Her arm brushed the bulge in his pants and she sucked in a breath. He stiffened and grabbed her wrist with one hand. Seconds passed with just the sound of their harsh inhales and exhales echoing between them.

“Quinn,” he said in a gruff voice.

She turned her head. Big mistake. Her gaze met his and his lips were way too close.

“You should move away,” he said, not making an effort to shift his own head at all.

“I know,” she whispered. But she was frozen in place, the desire to kiss him, to feel the beard that now covered his face against her skin overwhelming.

His grip on her wrist tightened. And still she didn’t turn away. So he closed the distance between them and sealed his lips over hers. Her lashes fluttered closed and she met him halfway, accepting the kiss. His mouth slid over hers, causing her body to come alive. Flutters took up residence in her stomach, and yearning slid like honey through her veins. He might be lacking stamina but his kiss was strong enough to consume her whole.

He parted his mouth, his facial hair tickling her lips as his tongue speared inside and tangled with hers. She groaned and his free hand came up to her neck, gripping her tight and holding her in place as he continued the delicious onslaught.

If not for the recent surgery, nothing would stop her from climbing into his lap, settling herself over the hard erection that was still pressing into her arm, and grinding against him while he continued the deep, drugging kiss. His lips played with hers, their tongues tangled and teeth clashed, and she knew he wanted more, just as she did.

“Jesus Christ, Austin. You just had major surgery. Can’t this wait?” a male voice asked.

Though Austin released his grip on her neck, he didn’t seem nearly as disturbed as she was, and she jumped back, mortified.

“Calm your shit, Dr. Prescott. I haven’t moved an inch. No violating doctor’s orders,” Austin said in a desire-laden voice.

She closed her eyes, wanting the floor to swallow her whole. She peeked over and saw Braden shaking his head at his brother.

“I’m sorry.” She jumped up, kneeling for the papers that fell to the floor.

“Quinn—”

Austin said her name but she ignored him, gathering the documents.

Braden stepped over and helped her. “Relax,” he said in her ear. “He’s perfectly fine. I’m just making sure he doesn’t pull his Steri-Strips.”

She shook her head. “No. This shouldn’t have happened. I work for him.” She stood and shoved the documents into her purse.

“Braden, give us a minute,” Austin said.

His brother left the room and she forced herself to meet Austin’s concerned gaze.

“I shouldn’t have kissed you. If I made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry,” he said.

“You didn’t. Make me uncomfortable, I mean. I wanted you to kiss me. It just can’t happen again. I need this job.” She had student loans for what her scholarship didn’t cover. Hell, given the way she was raised, taking care of every baby in her family, siblings and cousins, she needed this job to validate who she was as a person. “I love this job. And I’m not going to risk it by getting involved with my boss.”

Especially not with a playboy who could pick up any woman he wanted at any random meal of the day. And she’d certainly seen females be less than circumspect, slipping him their number, rubbing against him, and being outright rude to Quinn, pushing her aside when they were out for business.

“I value you, Quinn. I don’t want to lose you either.”

She managed a nod.

“So we’re good?” he asked.

“We’re fine.” Even if her body was still quivering inside from the best kiss she’d ever had.

 

*     *     *

 

Quinn left like the flames of hell were licking at her heels, and Austin didn’t blame her. What the fuck was he doing, acting on his deepest desire and kissing the best assistant he’d ever had? Even in the short time she’d been working for him, he knew she could handle him. His demands. His clients. Their tantrums. He couldn’t afford to lose her.

“Bro, damn, what were you thinking?” Braden sauntered into the room and slid into the chair Damon had occupied earlier.

“I wasn’t,” he muttered.

“Oh, you were, all right. Just with the wrong head.”

Austin rolled his eyes. “Shut the fuck up,” he said without heat.

He missed his brother when he was abroad, working for Doctors Without Borders, and Austin was glad he had Braden home for a brief time now.

“Holy shit, are those Tim Tams?” Braden flew out of the chair and planted his ass next to Austin, grabbing the cookies from beside him and opening them without asking.

“Hey! Those are mine.”

“And you can share them unless you want me to run off with them, leaving you with none. It’s not like you can chase me.” Braden rolled a shoulder.

Austin shook his head. Jesus Christ. Siblings.

His brother pulled open the crinkly package and snagged a couple of biscuits, handing the rest back to Austin. “She must really like you if she gave you these.”

“She works for me. What you saw was a slip. It won’t happen again.” It couldn’t happen again.

His brother chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that. I saw how you two looked at each other.”

“What are you, the expert on relationships now? I thought you were single.”

Braden was the sibling closest in age to Austin, so they were tight. Always had been. “Let’s say there’s someone with possibility.” His eyes gleamed and Austin knew his brother was in deep.

“I’m happy for you. As for me, I’m going to heal and get back to playing the field. After all, it’s what I do best.” He would put Quinn in the off-limits zone and keep her there.

He had no other choice.

 

 

Chapter One

 

One Year Later

Quinn sashayed out of Austin Prescott’s office, sweet curves encased in a tight black skirt with high fuck-me heels completing the outfit.

“Stop staring at your assistant’s ass, or at the very least, don’t be obvious about it.”

Austin cupped the back of his neck in his hand and let out a groan.

“You’re right,” he said to Marcus Powers, an agent in his office and a close friend. “It’s not cool.” Quinn was the best executive assistant ever and Austin didn’t want to lose her.